Welcome to Deep Creek Lake State Park’s DIY Park Quest!

 

Complete any (or all) of the following three activities:

• SNAKEROOT NATURE TRAIL A SELF-GUIDED EXPLORATION OF NATURE

  The Snakeroot Nature Trail is a 0.25 mile trail that is marked with green, plastic, diamond blazes. The hike to the start of the Snakeroot Nature Trail is approximately 0.6 of a mile. This would make a round trip a total distance of approximately 1.5 miles. The trail itself is a mixture of packed dirt and rock surfacing that can be slippery when wet. We recommend trail users wear sturdy footwear while enjoying the trail. The Snakeroot trail is not stroller friendly. Look for the interpretive stops along the trail which are marked with numbered wooden posts that correspond to information in the brochure.

  The Snakeroot Nature Trail can be accessed using the Indian Turnip Trailhead starting at the Headquarters/Camper Registration building (see trail map). From the trailhead follow the Indian Turnip Trail (orange blazes) for approximately 0.4 of a mile. Next turn left onto the Meadow Mountain Trail (white blazes) and hike for approximately 0.15 of a mile. The Snakeroot Nature Trail begins and ends where it meets the Meadow Mountain Trail at the power line right of way. To return to the trailhead , back track down the Meadow Mountain Trail and then follow the Indian Turnip Trail back to the parking area.

• AVIARY ACTIVITY SHEET

  The Aviary is located off of the far end of the Deep Creek Lake State Park’s Discovery Center Parking Lot. The Aviary houses birds of prey used for the Scales & Tales program. These birds have been injured or imprinted, and cannot survive in the wild. Deep Creek Lake State Park’s Aviary is home to nine non-releasable birds of prey. Each of these birds were injured, rehabilitated and deemed non releasable before becoming an ambassador for the Scales & Tales program, which serves to educate people of all ages on native raptors throughout Maryland. Visit the Aviary and read the interpretive exhibits to find out all about these animals, while completing the Aviary Activity Sheet. The Aviary is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset regardless of the Discovery Center’s hours.

• DEEP CREEK LAKE STATE PARK BINGO​

  Explore any area of the park you’d like and use this Bingo card to see what you can find! This activity can be combined with the two previous activities, if you would like!

Deep Creek Lake State Park
898 State Park Road
Swanton, Maryland 21561​​
Headquarters: 301-387-5563

Deep Creek Lake State Park is located in Western Maryland’s Garrett County. The park encompasses over 1,800 acres and adjoins Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area and its 3,900-acre man-made lake. Deep Creek Lake State Park lies just west of the Allegheny Front on a large plateau known as the Tablelands or Allegany Highlands. Its location at the southernmost end of Meadow Mountain places it west of the Eastern Continental Divide and within the Mississippi River watershed. The park gets its name from the lake, which was a hydroelectric project, constructed on Deep Creek in the 1920s by the Youghiogheny Hydroelectric Company. With its mile long shore line, two swimming beaches, 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, 112 site campground, and 6,000 square foot Discovery Center, Deep Creek Lake State Park offers year round activities for everyone.